Thill-coupling.



H. HIGGIN. THILL GQUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1900.) (No Model.)

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Patented Ian. I, I91". I I

. -No. 6.64.95l. Patented m. I, ism.

H. HIGGIN. THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed fiat. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Shaatr-Shaat 2.

witmuoeo Hen ry H8199 23 aacm' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HIGGIN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HIGQIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,951, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed March 23, 1900. Serial No. 9,868- (No model.)

To all whomit may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HIG'GIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification.

In Letters Patent of the United States No. 634,456, granted me, as assignor, October 10, 1899, I described and claimed a thill-coupling which in the preferred form consisted of a grooved couplingpin adapted to lock the sleeve of the draft-iron to the clip-lugs, a rocking frame mounted on the coupling-pin in engagement with the clip-lugs, having holes adapted to register with the holes in the cliplugs and with the groove or grooves in'the coupling-pin,a spring tension-lever fulcrumed in the rocking frame, having its inner end adapted to take against the sleeve of the draft-iron, means for locking the tensionlever in its strained position, and means for preventingaccidentalunlocking. Whilethis construction has proved a very desirable one, there would be a possibility, in case of accidental breakage of the spring tension-lever, that the coupling-pin might jar out and release the draft-iron from the clip-lugs.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple and eife'ctive supplemental lock for the coupling-pin, which, without affecting the facility with which the coupling or uncoupling may be effected, will prevent accidental uncoupling and render the construction safe under all conditions of service; and my invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thill-coupling embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 an enlarged section on line 4 4: of Fig. 3.

The reference-letter A denotes the front axle of a vehicle; B, aclip attached thereto; 0 C, clip-lugs, to which the draft-iron D of the thills or pole is attached; E, a couplingpin which serves to attach the draft-iron D to the clip-lugs O O; F, arocking frame mounted on the clip-lugs adapted to rock into engagement with the coupling-pin and lock it in position; G, a tension-lever fulcrumed in the rocking frame, with its inner end adapted to bear against the coupling-sleeve d of the draft-iron D and its outer end provided with a link g or other means, whereby it is locked in its strained position. By these means, all of which are set forth and described more in detail in the patent above referred to, I provide an antirattling thill-coupling from which the thills or pole may be quickly and easily removed or replaced.

Springs are liable to break from inherent defects, and owing to the factthat the tension-lever G is under constant and consider-. able strain and subjected to frequent and violent jarring, knocks, and blows, exposure to extremes of temperature, and other incidents of rough usage a sudden or severe strain may cause it to snap even if not originally defective. If the tension -lever were the only means for holding the coupling-pin in position, its rupture would make it possible for the pin to jar out of its engagement and so uncouple or partially uncouple the shafts or pole while in use, which might result seriously. In order to obviate this danger, I provide means independent of the tension-lever G for locking the coupling-pin in position, so that in case of accident to the tension-lever a simple coupling will be maintained until the accident is discovered and remedied. This independent locking means preferably consists of a divided wire spring H, mounted on the rocking frame F and engaging the groove e in coupling-pin E, so as to resist its removal. Inasmuch as there are no strains tending to force the pin out of engagement, the tension of the spring need not be sufficient to interfere with easy and rapid coupling or uncoupling.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the axle-clip and draft-iron of a vehicle, of a sleeve on the draftiron; a grooved coupling-pin adapted to lock the sleeve of thedraft-iron to the clip-lugs; a

rocking frame mounted on the lugs and adapted to engage the groove or grooves in the couplingpin; a tension lever fulcrumed in the rocking frame, having its inner end adapted to take against the sleeve of the draft-iron and its outer end free, but provided with means for locking it in its strained position; and means, independent of the tension-lever, for looking the coupling-pin in position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the axle-clip and draft-iron of a vehicle, of a sleeve on the draftiron; a grooved coupling-pin adapted to look the sleeve of the draft-iron to the clip-lugs; a rocking frame mounted on the lugs and adapted to engage the groove or grooves in the coupling-ping a tension-lever fulorulned in the rocking frame, having its inner end adapted to take against the sleeve of the draft-iron and its outer end free, but provided with means for looking it in its strained position; and the spring II mounted on the rocking frame to engage a groove in the ooupling-pin and lock it in position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY HIGGIN. Witnesses:

BRAYTON G. RICHARDS, JAMES T. RICHARDS. 

